Westchester Mourns the Passing of Beloved Philanthropist
Westchester County lost an exceptional member of its community with the passing of Patricia Lanza on April 3. She has been referred to by many as an unsung hero.
Lanza, an Eastchester resident, suffered a short illness when she discovered she had end-stage cancer just one month ago. She was 81 years old.
Known for a philanthropy that was thoughtfully directed toward helping people to help themselves, especially young people and women so they would be properly fed, clothed and equipped to be able to succeed in their lives, Patricia Lanza was responsible for distributing millions of dollars through the Harrison-based Lanza Family Foundation to nonprofit organizations over several decades of giving.
By 2014 she was known to have been involved with over 100 different groups, many based locally and others overseas. Lanza supported programs in Vietnam, Africa and other places across the globe. The Women’s Research and Education Fund celebrates her life on their website for funding programs to help women in Zimbabwe and Swaziland suffering from AIDS.
When she could Lanza would make the time to get to know the people helped through the programs she supported. She even made trips to Africa to see how the programs she helped fund there were affecting the people.
A well-known participant at events sponsored by El Centro Hispano in White Plains, Lanza contributed generously to the annual college scholarship fund and was essential in the development of the Technology Center, now a core part of the educational programs offered to the Hispanic community by Centro Hispano.
Isabel Villar, Executive Director said: “Her heart was bigger than her pocketbook.” Villar first came in contact with Lanza when in 1994 she sent a note and a $500 check for the scholarship fund. Villar wrote back and asked Lanza to join the scholarship committee, which she did.
“Patricia Lanza always said education is the key to everyone’s success,” Villar remembered. “She was very careful with the agencies she selected so that the money she gave would make the greatest impact. She reflected very carefully on this.”
In appreciation for Lanza’s efforts over the years, El Centro Hispano had planned to honor Patricia at its 40th anniversary gala later this year. Villar said they still plan to do so, yet they are very saddened to have to do it posthumously.
The White Plains Youth Bureau is another White Plains organization the Lanza Family helped with funding for scholarships and other educational programs.
“I am saddened to hear of the passing of Pat Lanza, said Frank Williams, Executive Director. “In all my years I have not found a more generous, kind, giving, concerned individual than Pat Lanza. Her life was the epitome of someone who did what she could to improve humanity and make the world a better place for all. When I first met Pat, she said to me that I have heard about the White Plains Youth Bureau and the work you are doing to prepare our youth for future success. I want to help you. She did! She supported our Youth Employment programs and provided College Scholarships to youth, many of them were first-generation college bound students. She not only provided resources and support, she took a personal interest in the lives of our youth and held them accountable for being good people.”
In 2013 the Lanza Family Foundation challenged White Plains-based Family Services of Westchester to a $1 million matching grant. FSW acknowledges that without the help of Patricia Lanza, they might never have met their goal to purchase a building to house their organization.
White Plains Mayor Tom Roach who knew Lanza through her various associations with city programs said: “Mrs. Lanza was generous but as important genuine. She was very down to earth and took a real interest in the groups she worked with. She used to say, when asked to speak at events, “I don’t write speeches I write checks” but she did so much more than that. When she was present she was fully present. We awarded her a key to the city which is an honor not frequently bestowed but in her case well deserved. She was also very smart and took the time to carefully consider where she would donate. I remember seeing her at an event and commenting that she always shows up in the right places because she always supported the groups that would make the best use of her support.”
The Lanza Family Foundation through Patricia Lanza also helped Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Habitat for Humanity of Westchester, and the Food Bank of Westchester.
Patricia Lanza is survived by three sons: James, Louie and Anthony. Her husband Frank died in 2006.
A celebration of her life is being planned for early next week at a location yet to be confirmed in White Plains.
